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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Augmentation by D-Cycloserine as a Treatment for Depression

NCT00869765 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: PHASE2 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 5

Last updated 2010-09-10

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Among antidepressant treatments, Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) stands as the most effective in treating acute depression. However, patient concerns with the cognitive side effects of ECT have encouraged the development of new and more focal forms of brain stimulation such as transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). The investigators' current study of tDCS as a treatment for depression suggests that this technique has antidepressant effects and is safe, painless and well tolerated. However, not all patients may respond to this treatment and the concern of possible relapse in some patients who respond to tDCS has raised interest in finding treatments that may enhance and prolong the antidepressant effects of tDCS. This study will investigate whether D-Cycloserine, a medication shown to lengthen the effects of tDCS on brain activity, can also enhance/prolong the antidepressant effects of tDCS in people suffering from depression.

Conditions

Interventions

DRUG

D-Cycloserine

100 mg D-cycloserine once every weekday taken 2 hours before tDCS session.

DEVICE

tDCS (Eldith DC-Stimulator (CE certified))

tDCS session lasting continuously for 20 minutes at 2 mA. Conductive rubber electrodes (7 x 5 cm, 35 cm2) covered by sponges soaked in saline will be used, held in place by a head band. The current will be gradually increased to the level of 2 mA over 30 seconds (to avoid the sensation of a flash).

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • The University of New South Wales

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Colleen Loo · University of New South Wales

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
90 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2009-04-30
Primary Completion
2010-09-30
Completion
2010-09-30

Countries

  • Australia

Study Locations

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Drugs
Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT00869765 on ClinicalTrials.gov